Would Buddha, Christ, or Any Holy Person Be Influenced By Astrology?

by Robert Wilkinson

Sure they would. Just because you're a holy man or woman doesn't mean the timing to things becomes irrelevant. Each of the above holy beings had a birth time, and therefore changes in their lives that were measurable and predictable. The timing on Buddha's enlightenment, for example, was tied to Saturn and the cycle of Full Moons. That makes sense, since he became a teacher about how to overcome suffering, no small thing. Suffering in all forms is intimately associated with Saturn, the planet symbolizing the fears, limitations, and delusions of form and perception we must learn to deal with in order to come to our spiritual maturity here on Earth.

Full Moons are definitely enlightening, bringing the promise of the New Moon to fulfillment in forms. The importance of the Wesak Festival (the Full Moon of Sun in Taurus Moon in Scorpio every spring) is associated directly with the Buddha, and the re-energizing of His eternal "Buddha nature" that is poured out to our world every year assisting humanity to overcome suffering. Of course, we are all familiar with Christ's association with the Fishes, or the sign of Pisces, also linked with the last 2000 year "age." Most Christians, regardless of what spiritual form or religion they embrace, definitely are learning about how to manifest positive Pisces traits, overcoming the problems and weaknesses of this sign.

This follows up on a theme I've introduced before, that once we get a grip on our own problems, strengths, weaknesses, and paths to enlightenment, regardless of how broad or narrow they are, we learn how to transmute them into positive responses to life. That becomes our gift to others in our world. Once we evolve beyond certain personality fears, limitations, and challenges, then we are in a position to share our experiences with others on the same path as we are, helping them in turn to overcome their own challenges and limitations and learning from them as well.

We are Eternal Beings having a human experience. We have a body, we have feelings, we have a mind, but we ARE a Spirit. This Higher Self expresses itself through our "Lights," the planets which symbolize the different parts of us. That's why we change as our planets move through experiences. These are symbolized by the Elements as we find them in all birth charts. To everything there is a season, and we observe these seasons of Life through the lens of Astrology that we may understand the meaning of the moment.

We perfect our lights through the different expressions of what we do, feel, think, desire, and yearn for. These help us learn the meaning of our life, who we are and who we are not. Through all our experiences, we learn a higher, better expression as we move through different fields of activity. Our heart's ability to express itself positively in approaching life's turning points helps us become our higher Material, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Self over time. Then we are able consciously to practice our higher, "Affirmative Self" whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Sometimes the practice is in harmonious circumstances. Sometimes we also must practice our higher Affirmative Self in difficult circumstances which test our ability to apply what we have realized and sought. We can learn not to get hooked by the lower self through both pleasurable and painful experiences. This is where the art and science of cycles is helpful. The passage through types of experience as shown by the signs help us to perfect our expression of all the positive sign qualities of our humanness.

Also, we are all experiencing simultaneously within the three dimensions of human experience. We learn all of the elemental qualities on the Personal level, the level of personality. We also learn to perfect ourselves on the Interpersonal level, the level of our interactions with the objects of sensation and other sentient Beings in our world. And we learn to perfect ourselves on the Transpersonal level, the level of our service to a greater Goodwill, Fellowship, and our Higher Aspiration. This is where we serve to better our world somehow, any way our heart chooses.

As we live our lives on all twelve levels of human endeavor, we are constantly learning through our choices on what to say yes to, and what to say no to. We express ourselves in a lot of ways over our life, and show many faces of ourselves to our world. We change in our thoughts, feelings, and responses, and by our choices we bring forth aspects of our lower self to transmute, and our higher Self to practice. Astrology shows us the timing on the changes. Astrology, rightly understood, is a system by which we can know the 12 areas of experience, who we are and what our purpose actually is, and become a more perfect doing, feeling, thinking, and aspiring human being.

Practicing your Higher Self makes you a healer in your world in whatever way your heart expresses itself. We have that which we learn through direct experience. Then we get to share what we have learned with others who suffer the same problems in their lives. They are free to take it or leave it, but ultimately there are a finite number of human experiences, and we go through them to learn certain things.

Even when we know the most positive responses, we still learn how to teach, share, and love more effectively. This never ends, since we change, humanity changes, metaphors and ways of seeing reality change, and the mass consciousness moves on as well. Consequently, our ways of framing our highest and best possible response to life circumstances also must change, else we find ourselves aware but ineffective.

Many years ago I heard it propounded by a Vedantan philosopher that when one finds a guru (spiritual teacher, literally "dispeller of darkness") then the personal birth chart no longer applies. He also felt that the birth charts of gurus were irrelevant, as he believed them to be beyond earthly things. My response is that regardless of how enlightened a being is, they are still subject to cycles of timing, though not necessarily bound to personality limitations the rest of us are still dealing with.

When we become "enlightened," our birth charts still continue to work. The difference is that Light radiates outward to the world, and the enlightened one is free from the usual traps of human-ness. The chart no longer shows points of fear and suffering, but instead show when the enlightened one will shift gears in their work, or relationships.

As we become more practically enlightened, the chart will show which lessons we are teaching and realizations we are demonstrating. We may not suffer the squares and oppositions as we once did, but we will inevitably find ourselves in situations where we will have to demonstrate our wisdom to others, or counsel them as to how they may transmute the lessons of that moment, or hear their wisdom that we may offer it to another. This is our way of connecting to the web of Life we all live within together.

The supreme genius of how this reality works is that we are never separate from anything or anyone or "God" or truth for even a moment. When we transcend the limitations of perception, then we are truly free to live the highest possibilities of our birth charts in the eternal NOW. We are no longer trapped by transitory forms of truth, God, religion, or any belief system, but can honor the best of all "spiritual" teachings. We are free to be at one in the moment with the qualities of that moment, without suffering from the fears that arise from perceptual traps.

Almost everything we've learned takes us away from our divine power in the moment and the ultimate experience of "Being-ness," or At-One-Ment. We are taught to trust our five senses and our minds, even though these are limited and impermanent. The test for all of us is to remember there is no other time but now, and no other place but here. And that we are Eternals having human experiences on the physical, emotional, and mental levels of existence, so we can learn compassion, love, wisdom, and adaptability.

As we transcend fears and assumptions we have learned from others who also suffer in their own limitations, then our charts can show us our Higher Self and how we may serve the greater web of Life that connects us all, both living and dead. Our charts show us the Teacher, the teaching, and the taught. That's why all true "spiritual" teachers and doctrines have had a place for the cycles of time and change, a.k.a., Astrology.

Comments

The interconnectedness of all things...the workings of the cosmos or the workings of your digestive system (for instance)it's all the same. And everyone possesses all the wisdom and creativity of the universe. An evolved being would, as a matter of course, consciously work with natural cycles as a part of daily life. Those lacking the language of astrology, are pulled along with the tide altho some are better swimmers than others. In any case, we're all here on spaceship earth at a dramatic time in evolution. The beauty of astrology is that we can make informed choices whilst making our personal contribution AND help others to do the same. Great stuff!

Hi Jenni - A big thumbs up on everything you just said. We're all light beings in a field of light, particles and waves all interconnected in a divine dance stretching to infinity, cycles upon cycles swirling from atoms to galaxies. It's interesting that if we are to believe our records, every supposedly divine being had an appreciation for astrology, and some, like the venerable Sri Yukteswar, actually were practicing astrologers. Yes, it is an exciting time. And I'm grateful I get to share my mapmaking skills as we all break out of the darkness of centuries into the light of eternity.

The 'discovery' of the transneptunian bodies and other new arrivals, and in such numbers, suggests we're being given new tools. I queried you the other day about the now fading fixed T-sq with Sedna in Taurus (for example). Someone said of Sedna she represented (amongst other things) survival after unspeakable betrayal/abuse. Looking around it seems likely that we'll soon be accessing the urgent, and prolific messages being sent at this time. The excitement is sometimes unbearable, isn't it? To help those experiencing a Galactic meltdown these new tools are, I think urgent. We're being pushed at a furious rate, truly in the burning fields. The phoenix (mentioned elsewhere on your site re loadsa Scorpio activity) feels like a perfect symbol to focus on. Interesting times, interesting times.

The soul has no birth, no death, no beginning, and no end. Sin cannot touch it, nor can virtue exalt it. Wisdom cannot open it up, nor can ignorance darken it. It has been always and always it will be. This is the very being of man, and all else is its cover, like a globe on the light. The soul's unfoldment comes from its own power, which ends in its breaking through the ties of the lower planes. It is free by nature, and looks for freedom during its captivity. All the holy beings of the world have become so by freeing the soul, its freedom being the only object there is in life.

This is so wonderful, Robert. My cat Ruby--whom I considered, along with her brother Max--died yesterday after a battle with lung cancer and i have been beyond bereft as the three of us composed the first happy family I ever belonged to. This brought me comfort today.

I'm glad you wrote this article - I like the way you use astrology with a light touch in the context of our enfoldment on Earth.

It's a question I've had in mind for some time. I think one of the qualities of enlightenment is being naturally in tune with natural forces - the Tao, if you will - and life becomes an expression of what is happening anyway.

That said, the deeper I descend into this wonderful mystery, the more I am finding astrology informative in providing pointers to work with.

Hi all - I'll pick up this thread by addressing the older comments, since they are still relevant to a heavier degree than ever before!

Hi Jenni - With each new planetary influence, we uncover a means to express another complex part of human-ness. The ancients knew of the invisibles, but they never discussed them with the masses, who had not yet individualized. As for Sedna, I cannot attribute only negative qualities to any planetary body. That is contrary to the way this reality is developing. Survival after betrayal or abuse is something we ALL must learn, whether through one planetary energy or another. I find that to "break on through to the other side" is about as exciting as it gets. I agree we're all being pushed, quickened, and challenged to move through the fire and become purified. And yes, we're all living the Chinese curse of living in interesting times.

Hi AceStar - beautiful quote. It's a great truth well expressed. Where does it come from?

Hi Lisa - My sincere condolences on losing your cat teacher. Our little friends are a joy and blessing to us humans, and remind us of what's truly important in life. Glad this could bring you comfort in your grief. You may want to do some kind of memorial or other ritual to make your walk between worlds a deeper engagement with the Sacred.

Hi Arjuna - Yes, as we dance with "our Tao" we see how it intersects with and expresses elements of "the Tao." Astrology just shows elements of the ever-fluid moment and larger patterns we realize, then apply, in our dances with our personality, other personalities, and the world at large.